Homeless Services

BID Programs > Homeless Services

Homeless Services
Helping people move from the streets to independence

The Downtown BID has the only non-governmental, clinically-based outreach team for the chronically homeless in Washington, DC. By working with property managers and business community leaders, and by collaborating with city officials and leading service providers, the Downtown BID aims to facilitate dialogue and build consensus to provide for the housing needs of Downtown’s homeless, while decreasing the number of people living on the streets and in shelters.


	Hypothermia Hotline 1 (800) 535-7252 When temperatures are freezing, call to arrange for a van to pick up the homeless and transport them to a local shelter.

It's here!
Read about the Downtown BID's effort to end homelessness through innovative solutions that move people off the streets and into housing.

Homelessness Downtown: Moving People from the Street to Independence

The Downtown BID partners with the city government and about 20 other partner providers to incorporate best practices to end homelessness. Our six-person homeless outreach team provides street-level intervention to move individuals beyond homelessness to independence.

The Downtown BID has developed an effective system to address homelessness:

Outreach Services - providing comprehensive outreach services through a professional team, aided by safety, hospitality and maintenance workers (SAMs)

Social Services and Mental Health Programs – finding solutions to prevent and end homelessness rather than maintain it


	July 2008 Homeless Map (click to enlarge)

Shelters - reconfiguring shelters to move people beyond homelessness more quickly and using shelters as temporary housing

Street Food Programs - finding alternatives to serving meals on the street and in parks and connecting people to vital services and pre-housing programs


July Homeless Count 2003-2008 (click to enlarge)

Education - using resources to get property managers, elected officials and other government decisionmakers, and the public to help homeless people in a positive way

Housing - adopting creative housing initiatives that focus on a person-centric approach to combating chronic homelessness

Funding - finding a financial solution to mitigate homelessness

		Selected Web Resources
Problems with aggressive panhandling? Seek the help of a Downtown SAM or Call the Downtown BID’s dispatch unit at: (202) 624-1550 Find out more about panhandling here.		The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness So Others Might Eat Gospel Rescue Ministries National Alliance to End Homelessness National Coalition for the Homeless Answers, Please! US Department of Housing and Urban Development Home Base - A Public Policy Law Firm of Homelessness Help the Homeless Hypothermia Prevention, Recognition and Treatment Fannie Mae Foundation Community for Creative Non Violence
		Click here for an expanded of web resoures

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Did you know?
3,816,000 pounds of litter were removed from Downtown last year.